Monday, November 18, 2013

Spokane Radio: C. Foster Kane OUT At KKZX-FM

For more than 20 years, thousands of people across the Spokane area tuned in to classic
rock KKZX-98.9 FM on weekday mornings to listen to the Radio Men.

But, according to spokesman.com, just after Halloween, the
popular duo of Jim Arnold and C. Foster Kane suddenly went off the air – to the
dismay of many who commented on the classic rock station’s Facebook page:

“Been listening to the Radio Men since I was 6. Think I’m
done with 98.9 … sad.”

“No Radio Men? I will move on and never speak this station’s
call letters again.”

“I listened to Radio Men with my father and those were great
memories. How could you let all the loyal fans down like that without even a
word?”

It was a matter of money, said Cal Hall, Spokane market manager for Clear Channel
Communications. The Texas-based media giant owns KKZX and several other local
stations.

“We were working with the Radio Men, trying to come to an
agreement financially,” Hall said Thursday. “Unfortunately, we were not able to
come to an agreement with C. Foster Kane, so we decided to part ways.”

Arnold
remains with the station, taking over the afternoon show from 3 to 7 p.m.

“Putting him on in the morning by himself didn’t make
sense,” Hall said. “That doesn’t mean he won’t be back in the morning. We’re
looking for a good morning show, and that may include Jim.”

There’s no timetable for launching the new show, he added:
“I’m going to take as long as it takes to find the best fit for that station.”

Spokane-born Arnold, 59, and native Californian Kane, 61,
worked in markets across the country before teaming up on KKZX in 1992. Their
show, typically among the top-rated local morning offerings, was a mixture of
music and offbeat banter.